Part 14
Our author, who was one of the committee, observes, that from this society may be seen the great business that may be done for a trifling expence; for the Treasurer, Commissioners, Secretary, and Clerks; the house-rent and entertainments; the fire and candle, paper, pens and ink, do not all together cost the society an hundred pounds _per annum_; and if, by an additional Clerk, he adds, it should happen to swell to 150l. “greater good with less money, I will be bold to say, is not done by any society in this kingdom: for exclusive of the charge of cloathing, feeding, and sending boys to Portsmouth, the expence is very little more than the rent of two rooms at about 25l. _per annum_, the salary of a secretary, not exceeding 50l. _per annum_, and a Porter 10l. _per annum_.”
There is a general meeting every three months, viz. the first Thursday in January, the first in April, the first in July, and the first in October, or oftener, if the committee desire it; when an account of receipts and disbursements are laid before the subscribers under the direction of the committee, which consists of a considerable number of them. Of this committee not less than three persons act, who meet every Thursday at eleven o’clock at the Merchants Seamens office over the Royal Exchange; and any other day, if necessary, at the Secretary’s house in Prince’s street, where any two of the committee may transact the business when it is very urgent.
MARINERS _alley_, Fore street, Lambeth.
MARINERS _street_, Shadwell.
MARK _lane_, extends from Fenchurch street to Tower street, and is chiefly inhabited by merchants. Maitland says it was originally called Mart lane, it being once used as a public mart. On the east side of this lane is the Corn Exchange.
MARKET _court_, 1. By Oxford market. 2. By Shepherd’s market.
MARKET _hill_, Upper Shadwell.
MARKET _lane_, Pallmall.
MARKET _passage_, 1. Lime street, leading into Leadenhall market. 2. Oxford street, leading into Oxford market. 3. Paternoster row, leading into Newgate market.
MARKET _street_, 1. Jermain street. 2. Newport street. 3. Millbank, Westminster.
MARKETS. As one of the principal advantages of a city are commodious markets, this metropolis may, in this particular, be said to exceed most, if not all the cities in Europe: some account of these is dispersed through this work; notwithstanding which, it may be proper, under this article, to gratify the reader’s curiosity, by giving a list of them, that the whole may be seen at one view.
Bear Key, the great corn market.
Billingsgate, the great fish, and coal market.
Bishopsgate street market, for hay.
Blackwell hall, the great cloth market.
Bloomsbury market, for meat, &c.
Borough market, a new market for meat and greens.
Brook’s market, for meat.
Carnaby market, for meat, &c.
Clare market, for meat, &c.
Covent Garden market, for herbs and fruit.
Fleet market, for meat, fruit, herbs, &c.
Hay market, Pallmall, for hay and straw.
Honey lane market, for meat, &c.
Hoxton market, for meat, &c.
Hungerford market, for meat, &c.
Leadenhall market, for leather, hides, and all kinds of provisions.
Mark lane market, for corn.
Newgate market, for all kinds of provisions.
Newport market, for meat, &c.
Oxford market, for meat, &c.
Queenhithe, the great meal market.
Red Lion market, for meat, &c.
St. James’s market, for meat, &c.
St. Margaret’s Hill market, for hay and straw.
Shadwell market, for meat, &c.
Smithfield market, for cattle.
Spitalfields market, for meat, greens, &c.
Westminster market, for meat, &c.
Whitechapel market, for meat by wholesale and retail.
White Horse Inn meal market, near Holborn bridge.
Wood’s Close market, for sheep skins.
MARLBOROUGH HOUSE, situated behind the houses on the west side of Pallmall, is a very large brick edifice, ornamented with stone, and built in a peculiar taste. The front, which is very extensive, has only two series of windows, and on each side the wings are ornamented at the corners, with a kind of stone rustic, and the edifice is terminated by a balustrade, in the manner it appears in the print. On the sides of the area next the wings a small colonade extends on each side, and the side opposite to the abovementioned area is taken up with the offices. The late Duchess of Marlborough, when this structure was finished, intended to have opened a way to it from Pallmall, directly in the front, as is evident from the manner in which the court yard is finished; but Sir Robert Walpole having purchased the house before it, and being upon no good terms with the Duchess, she was prevented in her design. The front towards the Park resembles this, only instead of the two middle windows in the wings, there are niches for statues, and instead of the area in front, you descend by a flight of steps into the garden.
This structure is, however, greatly censured by the critics in architecture.
The apartments however are noble, and well disposed, and the furniture is rich. In the vestibule at the entrance, is painted the battle of Hochstet, in which the most remarkable scene is the taking Marshal Tallard, the French General, and several other officers of great distinction, prisoners. The figures of the great Duke of Marlborough, of Prince Eugene of Savoy, and General Cadogan, are finely executed.
MARLBOROUGH _court_, 1. Berwick street. 2. Petticoat lane.
MARLBOROUGH, or _Carnaby market_, by Marlborough street. See CARNABY MARKET.
MARLBOROUGH _mews_, by Oxford street; so called from the Dukes of Marlborough formerly keeping their hawks there.
MARLBOROUGH _row_, Carnaby or Marlborough market.
MARLBOROUGH _street_, a very handsome street, extending from the end of Argyle buildings.
MARSH _street_, Ratcliff highway.†
MARSH _yard_, Wapping.†
_Earl_ MARSHAL _of England_, the eighth great officer of the kingdom, hereditary in the family of the Dukes of Norfolk ever since the year 1553. This officer had formerly great authority; for he took cognizance of all matters of war and arms, determined contracts relating to deeds of arms out of the realm upon land, and matters concerning wars within the realm, that could not be determined by common law, in which he was generally guided by the civil law. Indeed he had several courts, among which was the Marshalsea court in the Borough, so called from its being under his jurisdiction. But the house of Norfolk being of the Romish religion, is incapable by law of performing these offices. See MARSHALSEA PRISON. The Earl Marshal has however held several courts at Doctors Commons, to inquire into the right several people had assumed of bearing arms. _Chamberlain’s Present State._
_City_ MARSHAL, an officer of considerable authority, dignity, and profit. His business is to see the laws of the city put in execution; and in solemn processions he rides before the Lord Mayor, on a horse richly caparisoned. The sum of fifteen hundred pounds is usually given for this place.
MARSHAL _street_, 1. Maiden lane, Deadman’s place. 2. Silver street, Bloomsbury.
MARSHALSEA COURT. See the following article.
MARSHALSEA PRISON, on St. Margaret’s Hill, Southwark, is a place of confinement for persons who have committed crimes at sea, as pirates, &c. and for debtors. In this prison is the Marshalsea court, the Judges of which are, the Lord Steward of his Majesty’s houshold for the time being; the Steward of the court, who must be a barrister at law; and a Deputy Steward. In all civil actions tried in this court, both the plaintiff and defendant must belong to his Majesty’s houshold, The persons confined in this prison for crimes at sea, take their trials at the Old Bailey.
In the same prison is the _Palace Court_, the jurisdiction of which extends twelve miles round the palace of Westminster, the city of London only excepted; and the debtors within any part of Westminster, and twelve miles round, may be carried to this prison for a debt of 40s. Actions for debt are tried in this court every Friday, and there are the same Judges, Counsellors and Attorneys here as in the Marshalsea court; these are, besides the Judges already mentioned, a Prothonotary, a Secondary, and Deputy Prothonotary; four Counsellors, and six Attorneys, But in this court neither the plaintiff nor defendant must belong to his Majesty’s houshold.
The buildings are mean and ruinous; but the court-room is pretty spacious and convenient.
MARSHAM _court_, Hog lane, St. Giles’s.†
MARSHAM _street_, Market street, Westminster.†
MARTIN’S _court_, 1. Whitechapel.† 2. Chick lane, Smithfield.†
_St._ MARTIN’S _in the Fields_, in St. Martin’s lane, near Charing Cross. This church received its name from St. Martin, an Hungarian, who was sainted for the cruelty with which he persecuted the Arians, and its being formerly situated in the fields. Though the present structure is of a modern date, there was very early a church upon the same spot, dedicated to the same saint; for there are authentic records of a dispute in 1222, between the Abbot of Westminster and the Bishop of London, concerning the exemption of the church of St. Martin’s in the Fields from the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London, How long before this a building for the service of religion was erected there, is not easy to determine; but it was probably a chapel for the monks of Westminster, when they visited their convent garden, which then extended to it. However, the endowments of this church sell with the monks who possessed it, and in Henry the VIIIth’s reign a small church was built there at the King’s expence, the inhabitants being then too poor to pay for it; but this structure not being capacious enough to accommodate the parishioners, it was greatly enlarged in 1607. At length, after many expensive repairs, that structure was taken down in the year 1721, and soon after the first stone of the present edifice was laid. Five years completed the building, and in 1726 it was consecrated.
It is observable, that on the laying of the first stone, his Majesty King George I. gave an hundred guineas to be distributed among the workmen, and some time after 1500l. to purchase an organ. The whole expence of building and decorating this church, amounted to 36,891l. 10s. 4d. of which 33,450l. was granted by Parliament, and the rest raised by the above royal benefaction, a subscription, and the sale of seats in the church.
St. Martin’s in the Fields is an elegant edifice built with stone. In the west front is an ascent by a very long flight of steps to a very noble portico of Corinthian columns, which support a pediment in which is the royal arms in has relief. The same order is continued round in pilasters, and in the intercolumniations are two series of windows surrounded with rustic. On each side the doors, on the sides which are near the corners, are lofty Corinthian columns; the roof is concealed by a handsome balustrade, and the spire is stately and elegant.
The decorations on the inside are extremely fine; the roof is richly adorned with fret-work; slender Corinthian columns raised on high pedestals, rising in the front of the galleries, serve to support both them and the roof, which on the sides rests upon them in a very ornamental arch-work. The east end is richly adorned with fret-work and gilding, and over the altar is a large window finely painted.
This church was repaired and beautified in 1758.
With respect to this noble edifice, says the author of the _Review_, “I could wish that a view was opened from the Mews to St. Martin’s church; I don’t know any of the modern buildings about town which better deserves such an advantage. The portico is at once elegant and august, and if the steps arising from the street to the front could have been made regular, and on a line from end to end, it would have given it a very considerable grace; but as the situation of the ground would not allow it, this is to be esteemed a misfortune rather than a fault. The round columns at each angle of the church are very well contrived, and have a very fine effect in the profile of the building; the east end is remarkably elegant, and very justly challenges a particular applause. In short, if there is any thing wanting in this fabric, ’tis a little more elevation, which, I presume, is apparently wanted within, and would create an additional beauty without. I can’t help thinking too that, in complaisance to the galleries, the architect has reversed the order of the windows, it being always usual to have the large ones nearer the eye, and the small, by way of Attic story, on the top.”
This church is a vicarage, in the gift of the Bishop of London.
_St._ MARTIN’S _Church yard_, St. Martin’s lane, Charing Cross.
_St._ MARTIN’S _court_, a large, handsome court, with a free stone pavement in St. Martin’s lane, Charing Cross.
_St._ MARTIN’S IRONMONGER LANE, a church which stood at the corner of Church alley, in Ironmonger lane, and in Cheap ward; but being destroyed by the dreadful fire of London, and not rebuilt, the parish was united to St. Olave Jewry. _Newc. Rep. Eccles._
_St._ MARTIN’S _lane_, 1. Opposite Northumberland house in the Strand; thus named from the church of St. Martin’s in the Fields. 2. Canon street, Walbrook; so named from the church of St. Martin’s Orgar, which was formerly on the east side of it.
_St._ MARTIN’S LE GRAND, extends from the corner of Blowbladder street to Aldersgate. This street, as far as Bell court near St. Anne’s lane, as well as all the courts on each side, is within its own liberty, and in the government of Westminster. It took its name from a collegiate church founded here by one Ingalricus and his brother Edward, in the year 1056, for a Dean, secular Canons, and Priests, and dedicated to St. Martin. Afterwards the addition of _le Grand_ was added, from the extraordinary privileges of sanctuary granted to it by several Monarchs. Hither thieves, ruffians, and murderers used to fly for safety; here robbers brought their stolen goods, which they shared among themselves, or sold to the inhabitants: here also lived the makers of picklocks; the counterfeiters of keys and seals; the forgers of false evidence; those who made chains, beads, and plate of gilt copper, which they sold for gold; and, in short, gamesters, bawds, and strumpets. To so great a height of licentiousness was this sanctuary grown, that in the reign of Henry VII. the Sheriffs of London venturing to take from thence by violence a person who had taken sanctuary there, the Abbot of Westminster exhibited a bill to the King against them, upon which the cause was heard in the Star-chamber, and the Sheriff severely fined. _Maitland._
Though this place is in a manner in the heart of the city, it is still in the liberty of Westminster; and the inhabitants are governed, and vote accordingly. The courts and alleys are now chiefly inhabited by taylors and others who are not free of the city; for all foreigners carry on their trades, and professions there without molestation.
_St._ MARTIN’S LE GRAND COURT. As St. Martin’s le Grand is a liberty distinct from the government of London, and subject to the Deanery of Westminster, it has a court of record kept every Wednesday, for the trial of all personal actions of what nature soever, and there is a court-house and a prison.
In this court the leading process is a _capias_ against the body, or an attachment against the goods; so that a man’s goods may be seized in his own house, upon the first process, if he himself be not taken: which is according to the practice of all ancient liberties or franchises. _Stow._
_St._ MARTIN’S _Ludgate_, on the north side of Ludgate street, almost contiguous to the gate, and in the ward of Faringdon within. The old church being consumed by the fire of London, the present edifice was erected in its place. The body is not seen from the street; but is tolerably enlightened. The steeple consists of a plain tower, and a pretty lofty spire raised on a substantial arcade, so that it has at once the appearance of strength and lightness.
The patronage of this rectory was anciently in the Abbot and Convent of Westminster; but on the suppression of their monastery, King Henry VIII. erected Westminster into a bishopric, and gave the advowson of this church to the Bishop; but the new see being dissolved by Edward VI. Queen Mary granted it to the Bishop of London, and his successors, in whom it still remains.
The Rector receives, by act of Parliament, in lieu of tithes, 160l. _per annum_. _Newcomb’s Eccles. Rep._
Mr. Strype, in his edition of Stowe’s Survey, gives several monumental inscriptions in this church, from which we shall select the two following; the first to the memory of William Yeardley and his wife, the former of whom died on the 28th of October 1523, and the latter on the 20th of July 1533.
William Yeardley, and Elizabeth his wife, Who lived on earth free from strife, Not farre from this, in earth doth lye, To shew that all that live must dye. Where they do quietly expect To rise again as God’s elect. They left four daughters and a sonne, Who left them this when they were gone.
The other is on Florens Caldwell, Esq; citizen and haberdasher, and Mary his wife, the latter of whom died June 19, 1590.
Earth goes to earth, as mold to mold, Earth treads on earth, glittering in gold, Earth as to earth returne neare should, Earth shall to earth goe ere he would, Earth upon earth consider may, Earth goes to earth naked away. Earth, though on earth be stout and gay, Shall from earth pass poore away. Be merciful and charitable, Relieve the poor as thou art able; A shrowd to thy grave Is all thou shalt have.
_St._ MARTIN’S ORGARS, a rectory, the church of which was situated on the east side of St. Martin’s lane near Canon street, in Candlewick ward, and is so named from its dedication to St. Martin; and the additional epithet of _Orgars_, from Odgarus or Ordgarus, who was probably its founder or patron: but this church being destroyed with the rest of the public edifices in the fire of London in 1666, and not rebuilt, the parish was annexed to the church of St. Clement Eastcheap. _Newc. Rep. Eccles. Paroch._
In this church was a tomb with the following epitaph, mentioned by Mr. Strype in his edition of Stowe’s Survey, on Sir Allen Cotton, Knt. Alderman, and sometime Lord Mayor of London, who died on the 24th of September 1628, leaving three sons and two daughters; and these sons caused his monument to be erected,
When he left earth, rich bounty dy’d, Mild courtesie gave place to pride: Soft Mercie to bright Justice said, O sister! we are both betray’d; White Innocence lay on the ground By Truth, and wept at either’s wound. The sons of Levi did lament, Their lamps went out, their oil was spent. Heav’n hath his soul, and only we Spin out our lives in misery. So, Death, thou missest of thy ends, And kill’st not him, but kill’st his friends.
_St._ MARTIN’S OUTWICH, at the south east angle of Threadneedle street, in Broad street ward, owes its additional epithet to William and John de Oteswich, who were some time the proprietors thereof. The patronage of this church was indeed anciently in the family of the Earls of Surry; but afterwards coming to the de Oteswiches, they conferred it upon the company of Merchant Taylors, in whom it still remains. The Rector receives only 40l. a year in tithes. _Maitland._
This is one of those few churches that escaped the fire in 1666, and with some repairs has stood ever since, and may stand much longer, though it is already above 220 years old.
This edifice is an old Gothic structure of the meaner style; it is sixty-six feet long, and forty-two broad; the height of the roof is thirty-one feet, and the height of the steeple, sixty-five feet. The body is of brick, strengthened at the corners by a massy rustic: the windows, which are large, are of the coarse Gothic kind, and the top is surrounded with plain square battlements. From the tower, which is extremely plain and simple, rises a turret, that is open, arched, and supported by four piers; and from the dome rises a ball and fane.
The New View of London has the following epitaph in this church.
In memory of John Wright, _anno sal._ 1633, aged 24.
Reader, thou may’st forbear to put thine eyes To charge for tears, to mourn these obsequies; Such charitable drops would best be given To those who late, or never come to heav’n. But here you would, by weeping on this dust, Allay his happiness with thy mistrust; Whose pious closing of his youthful years Deserves thy imitation, not thy tears.
_St._ MARTIN’S POMARY, or Ironmonger lane, Cheapside, is supposed by Mr. Stowe to have derived its additional epithet of _Pomary_, from apple trees growing about it; which is the more probable, as in his time there were large void spaces near it. This church stood at the corner of Ironmonger lane, and in Cheap ward; but suffering by the dreadful fire of London, the parish was united to the church of St. Olave’s Jewry.
MARTIN’S _rents_, Queen street, New Gravel lane.†
MARTIN’S _street_, Thames street.
_St._ MARTIN’S VINTRY, stood in Thames street, near the south east corner of Queen street, and in Vintry ward. This church, which was a rectory, received its additional denomination from its being situated among the wine tunners, wine merchants, and coopers: but sharing the common fate in the dreadful catastrophe of 1666, and not being rebuilt, the parish was united to that of St. Michael’s Royal, and 120l. a year was settled upon the Rector in lieu of tithes. _Maitland._
MARTLET’S _court_, Bow street, Covent Garden.†
_St._ MARY ABCHURCH, in Abchurch lane, Candlewick ward, owes its name to its dedication to the Virgin Mary, and the additional appellation of _Ab_ or _Upchurch_, was given it on account of its elevation in comparison of the neighbouring ground towards the Thames, and to distinguish it from the many other churches of the same name in this city. A church dedicated to St. Mary has stood here from very early times; and we find that in the year 1448, it was in the patronage of the Prior and Canons of St. Mary Overy’s; but devolving to the crown in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, her Majesty granted the perpetual advowson to _Corpus Christi_ college in Cambridge, wherein it still remains, though in ecclesiastical affairs, it is subject to the Archdeacon. _Maitland._
The old church stood till it was consumed by the fire in 1666, after which the present structure was raised in its room in the year 1686.
The building is of brick, strengthened by rustic quoins of stone at the corners, with three windows on each side, of which the middle one is the principal, that rising higher, and taking up the space above, while the others, which are smaller, have round windows over them; these have all stone cases. The tower rises square with the corners strengthened with rustic; and a large window in the center of each face, ornamented like the rest. From this tower rises a kind of dome, and upon its summit stands a plain spire supported by a lanthorn base.
_St._ MARY ALDERMANBURY, by the north east corner of Love lane, has a fine situation, with a large area, besides the church yard in the front. A church of the same name appears from ancient records to have been situated there so early as about the year 1300; however, great part of the old structure was taken down in 1633, and rebuilt at a considerable expence; but thirty three years afterwards it was destroyed by the fire of London, and ten years after that dreadful event, it was finished in the present form.